Daphne van Domselaar and Kenza Dali got their respective campaigns up and running in the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
The pair experienced a mixed day, however.
van Domselaar was the first Villan to feature as her Netherlands side faced Portugal in their Group E encounter.
Our first summer signing played the full 90 minutes between the posts as her side ran out 1-0 winners courtesy of Stefanie van der Gragt’s first-half header.
Our new number one was relatively untroubled by a Portugal side which featured former Villa player Diana Silva.
Daphne was called into action late on, though, when she parried Telma Encarnação’s effort away from danger to preserve the clean sheet.
She will be in action again on Thursday morning when the Dutch take on the two-time defending champions United States of America.
Dali didn’t start France’s Group F opener against Jamaica but came on with 65 minutes on the clock.
The attacking midfielder watched on during the first half as Kadidiatou Diani forced Tottenham Hotspur’s Becky Spencer into a smart save at her near post.
Manchester City’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw also went close for Jamaica with a ferocious free-kick from distance.
Kenza was introduced with a little over 25 minutes remaining and endeavoured to increase the tempo, but there remained little in terms of clear cut chances until her side struck the crossbar in the final minute of normal time.
Dali then had an effort saved in additional time as Jamaica held on for a valuable point.
France will continue their World Cup campaign on Saturday morning against Brazil.
